Loading or unloading apparatus.



AVAZLABLE so??? 133.21: 631% j t "0.631317. Patehtefi Aug; 22,1899. G. H.HULETT. LOADING 0R UNLUADING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Ear. 14, 1898.1

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

W1 T NESSES I No. 63!,7l7. Patentd Aug. 22, I899,

. e. n; HULETT. v I LOADING OB UNLOADING APPARATUS.

(Application mm Max. 14, 18984) I I 4 Sheet s -S heet 2 (No Model.)

WITNESSES I [N ENTOR a v I Anmm' LOADING DB UNLOADING APPARATUS.

(Appljcation filed. Mar. '14, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- W1TNESSE m 63!,7l7. v r Patented Aug. 22, I899.

' a. H. HULETT.

LOADING 0R UNLOADING APPARATUS.

- (Applicqtion filed Mar. 1&1, 1898.) I (No Model.) 4 Sheet sShe et 4 [NV NTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

GEORGE I-I. HULETT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE WEBSTER, CAMP & LANE MACHINE COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO.

LOADING OR UN L OAD|NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,717, dated August 22, 1899;

Application filed March 14,1898. Serial No. 673,763. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. HULETT, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading and Unloading Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

. My invention relates to an improvement in loading and unloading apparatus, and more particularly to such as are adapted for transferring coal from cars and depositing it into the hold of a boat, one object of the inven- Y tion being to facilitate theloading with coal or other loose material of boats having their hatchways arranged with their longest diameter transversely of the boat.

A further object is to construct an apparatus for the purpose stated in such manner that the coal will not be broken during its transmission from the coal-car to the hold of the boat.

A further object is to so constructabucket for the reception of the coal from the car that the amount of fall of the coal from the car to the bucket shall be reduced to a minimumwithout the use of the long concentrating chute heretofore employed.

A further object is to avoid the use ofa concentrating chute such as heretofore employed to reduce the fall of the coal to prevent its breaking as its flows from the car to the boat.

A further object is to so construct the hucketof a loading and unloading apparatus that the bottom thereof shall be permitted togradually descend through the body portion as the coal is depositedinto said bucket, and thus avoid the fall of coal from the top to the bottom of the bucket, which fall is liable to cause the coal to be broken.

A further object is to so construct an apparatus for transferring coal from a car to a boat that the bottom of the bucket employed shall be movable through the body portion ihereof and so that said bottom and body of the bucket shall be independently under the control of the operator.

A further object is to so construct an apparatus for transferring coal from cars to a boat that it can be readily moved and adjusted relatively to the hatches of the boat.

A further object is to construct a loading apparatus in such manner that conveyingbuckets approximating the; shape of the hatchway of a boat can be disposed parallel with a coal-car, so as to receive coal dumped therefrom, and adapted to turn at right an- ,gles to their loading position after having been raised therefrom, whereby to facilitate their insertion througha hatchway, thelong- :est diameter of which is disposed transversely .of the boat.

A further object is to so construct an apparatus for transferring coal from cars to aboat by means of elongated buckets that said l buckets after having discharged their contents into, the boat and been raised therefrom shall be turned a quarter-revolution when they shall have returned to their loading position, whereby said buckets will be disposed in a loading] position, with their longest diameters parallel with the car from which they are to be loaded.

A further object is to so construct a load- ;ing and unloading apparatus that it shall be comparatively simple in construction, easy ;to manipulate, and which shall be effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.-

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating my invention. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a plan View. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are details.

A represents the dock, and B a boat. On the dock a stationary vertical framework O is located, and within this framework a cradle or tilting platform D is disposed. The cradle D comprises a base 1 and uprights 2, secured rigidly together and braced, as at 3. The upper ends of the standards 2 are pivotally connected to the stationary framework A by being provided at its outlet with an automat-- Fig.

ically-operating gate 6. This gate is provided with a weighted arm 6, and to the chute a leverG is pivoted between its ends. One end of the lever 6 is attached to a rod or bar 6 and the other end of the latter is attached to a pivoted latch 6, adapted to engage the gate. Rollers 7 are journaled in the base of the cra dle, and on these rollers a transversely-movable platform 8 is mounted. Tracks 9 are secured on the platform 8 for the accommodation of a coal-car 10. A series of (preferably four) clamps 11 are attached to the cradle and adapted to engage one side of the car to assist in holding it on the cradle while being dumped. A corresponding number of chains 12 are secured to the base of the cradle at 12 and extend upwardly alongside the car over pulleys 13, mounted in the upper ends of the clamps,and then upover pulleys 14:15, mounted in the upper part of the framework A, their free ends being provided with counterbalancing-weights 16. Adrum 17 is mounted in the base of the framework A and provided with any suitable driving means. Two cables 18 19 are secured to and adapted to wind on the drum 17. The cable 18 passes from the drum 17 up over a pulley 20, mounted in the top of the framework, and thendownwardly, its end being secured to one end of the base of the cradle at the pivoted side of the latter. The other cable 19 is secured to the other end of the baseof the cradle and extendstherefrom under the cradle, then upwardly over a pulley 20, mounted in the top of framework A, then over a pulley 21, and then to and around the drum 17. From this construction and arrangement of parts it will be seen that when power is applied to the drum 17 the cradle will be turned on the pivot 4, and that the car will be held in place on the cradle by the weighted chains 12, which will extend across the car, as shown in Fig. 1. When the car is thus dnm ped, the coal therein will be discharged through the chutes 5 into buckets E provided for its reception, and these buckets will be discharged, as hereinafter explained, into the hold of a boat. 7 v

For the accommodation of the buckets E trucks 22 are provided and adapted to run on trackways located {preferably in a pit) in proximity tothe framework A and near the edge of the dock.

The hatchways of some boats, especially .such as are used on the Great Lakes, are arranged with their longest diameter transversely of the boat, and in order to enable.

the bucket to be lowered through the hatch it shouldbe made rectangular, as with such form the greatest capacity can be obtained. Sometimes the hatches will not admit of a Very large bucket; but in order to transmit a car-load of coal with two buckets (a greater number with separate operating mechanism for each being impractical for use at the same time for transmitting coal from a car to the boat) the buckets must of course be quite large. To enable the bucket to descend frame by means of a vertical pivot 26.

the free edge of each frame 25 one end of a 'trackway, being secured to a tower 2S. boom 29 is pivotally connected to each tower (preferably by means of a rule-joint) in close proximity to the attachment of the trackway 27" thereto, and on each boom trackways 30 are located and adapted to normally aline with and form .continuations of the track- ;ways 27. secured together at their upper ends and separated at their lower ends, the latter being provided with wheels 31, adapted to through the hatchway. By thus constructing the bucket with the flaring or enlarged upper portion the capacity of the bucket to receive a half car-load of coal will not be reduced and at the same time the bucket will be permitted to project a proper distance through the hatchway of a small boat.

In order to avoid the use of a concentrating -chute heretofore sometimes employed with car-dumping machines to prevent the breaking of the coal during transit from the car to the boat, the buckets are each constructed With a bottom 24, movable within and independently of the body portion of the bucket, and the upper face of said bottom 2t is made A-shaped. Means are provided, as hereinafter explained, whereby to support and operate the body and bottom of the bucket independentlygso that when the empty bucket is in position to receive coal from the car the bottom 24: can be disposed at or near the top of the bucket and be permitted to descend gradually as the bucket fills. Thus the fall of coal from the chute 5 through the full depth of bucket will be avoided and all liability of the breaking of the coal on account of excessive length of fall obviated.

On the top of the main frame A two horizontally-disposed frames 25 are located, and each is pivotally connected with the main To trackway 27 is secured, the other end of said A Each tower comprises two uprights run on curved tracks 32, located at the edge of the dock; whereby the towers and the trackways carried thereby can be adjusted over the hatchways of the boat to be loaded.

To facilitate the manipulation of the towers in adj usting'them relatively to the hatchways, as above stated, the revoluble axle of one wheel 31 of each tower is extended beyond its bearing and provided with a worm-wheel 33 to be operated by means of a worm 13%, mounted in suitable bearings secured to the tower, the shaft of said worm being provided with a crank-arm by means of which to turn it. The

towers are supported in their upright position by means of the trackways 27 and pivoted frames 25, and also by means of trussrods 35, secured, respectively, to the apices of permit the boom to be raised, as shown in Fig. l, and enable the boat to be run alongside the dock.

For the purpose of raising the boom a drum d is mounted on the pivoted end on the pivoted frame 25, and on this drum one end of a cable 6 is wound. This cable is extended over a pulley f, mounted in the top of the tower, thence down and about a pulley g, mounted in a frame It, secured to the boom, then back over a pulley f in the top of the tower, then down and about another pulley in the frame 72., and then up to the top'of the tower, where it is secured at t'.

The mechanism located on both pivoted frames 25 and on the towers, t-rackways, and booms being the same, a detailed description of one system of these mechanisms and devices will suffice for both.

A trolley 37 is mounted to run on each trackway 27 2E) and is provided with two sets of pulleys a Z) c and a b c. Pulley-blocks 38 38 are connected with the bottom 24 of the bucket E by means of chains Cables 40 40 are secured to and adapted to wind on a drum 41, mounted on the pivoted frame 25, and extend over the pulleys (H3111 the trolley 37, then about pulleys 42, mounted in the blocks 38, then over the pulleys co 0 in the trolley, and theirends are secured to the outer end of the boom at 43. A bracket 44 is secured to the body portion of the bucket E, and in this bracket a pulley 44 is mounted, with its axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bucket. A cable 45 passes about this pulley and, extending upwardly, one end is passed over the pulley Z) in the trolley and then extended to and wound on a drum 46 on the pivoted frame 25. The other end of the cable 45 is passed over the pulley b in the trolley and extended to the end of the outer boom, where it is secured at 45.

The drums 41 46 are provided with suitable brakes by means of which to control their operation, and said drums may be driven in any suitable manner.

The bucket E is disposed on the truck 22 so that its longest diameter will,be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the coal-car, and when the latter is dumped, as above described,

. the engagement of the chute 5 with the bucket will cause the gate in said chute to be automatically opened and the coal will be allowed to flow onto the bottom 24 and into the body of said bucket. The cables attached to said bottom 24 will be permitted to pay out from' the drum as the coal flows into the bucket, and thus permit the bottom 24 to gradually descend as the bucket fills. The bucket having become filled, the cradle will be operated to remove the chute therefrom, (the gate 6 in said chute being thereby automatically closed,) when the bucket can be raised. This raising of the bucket will be accomplished by operating both drums simultaneously, so as to raise both the body and the independentlymovable bottom of the bucket together. In View of the fact that the axis of the pulley 44 is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bucket the two vertical members of the cable 45, passing over this pulley, will be twisted relatively to each other when the bucket is at rest on its truck, so that when the bucket is raised the effort of these members of cable 45 to right themselves and become parallel will cause the bucket to make a quarter-revolution, and thus to become disposed transversely with respect to the boat, so as to descend through the transverse hatchway in the boat after it shall have been moved over said hatchway. For the purpose of thus moving the bucket over the hatchway of the boat the trolley 37 is provided. One end of a cable 47 is secured at 48 to the trolley and;

extends therefrom to the outer end of the boom, whereit passes overa pulley 49. The cable 47 then extends rearwardly and after passing over a pulley 50, mounted in the tower, is extended to the pivoted frame 25, where it is wound on a drum 51, mounted on said frame. By imparting motion to the drum 51 the trolley will, as is obvious, be made to travel outwardly on the boom and over the boat. The trolley can be moved in the opposite direction after the bucket shall have been unloaded by means of a cable 52, attached to said trolley at 53 and wound on a drum 54 on the pivoted frame 25. When the trolley carrying the loaded bucket shall have been moved out on the boom so as to dispose the bucket over the hatchway in the boat, both drums 41 46 will be permitted to unwind simultaneously, so as to permit the bucket, with its load, to descend through the hatchway. Vhen the bucket shall have passed a proper distance into the boat, the drum 46 will be stopped and the drum 41 be permitted to continue to unwind, so as to allow the bottom 24 of the bucket to continue to descend, and thus cause the contents of the bucket to be discharged. The bucket having been thus discharged, the drums 41 46 will be made to revolve and wind the cables thereon so as to raise the body and bottom of the bucket to the trolley. The drum 54 will now be operated to cause the trolley to travel back on the boom and onto the tracks 27 over the dock. The drums 41 46 will now be permitted to unwind, whereby to allow the bucket to'descend onto its truck ready to receive another load of coal. When the bucket begins to descend, it will be so disposed that its longitudinal axis will be at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the .car from which the bucket is to receive its charge of coal and parallel with the longest diameter of the transverse hatchway of the boat, and as it is desirable, as previously explained, that the bucket while being loaded shall be disposed with its load side or longitudinal axis parallel with that of the car it is necessary that the bucket be turned upon its arrival on the truck. This can be accomplished by diagonally-disposed guides 56 57, secured to the truck in proximity to its longitudinal edges and projecting upwardly and disposed diagonally in' opposite directions, the free upper extremities of said guides being disposed perpendicular to the truck, as at 58. From this construction it will be seen that the bucket in descending on the truck will engage said guides and be thereby turned aquarter-revolution, so as to be disposed with its broad side parallel with the coal-car. In order to cause the bucket to occupy a central position on the truck, the latter is provided with an inclined guide 59.

As previously stated, each bucket will be made to hold half a car-load. 'lwo buckets will therefore be employed, so that the complete contents of the car can be discharged at once. The buckets being quite large, it is desirable and important that separate raising and carrying means be provided for each bucket. For this reason two conveying appar-atus are employed, and the two pivoted frames with which the towers and booms are connected are mounted on the same fixed framework, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Instead of causing the bucket to turn onefourth of a revolution when it reaches the truck by means of the guides 56 57 a turntable mounted on the truck may be used for this purpose.

I do not in this case claim the specific construction of the bucket, the same being the subject-matter of another application for patent, filed by me on the 3d day of August, 1899, Serial No. 725,938.

Having fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In apparatus for transferring material from a car to a boat, the combination with framework,a trolleyanda rectangular bucket, of devices connected with said bucket and trolley whereby to automatically turn the loaded bucket one-fourth of a revolution after it shall have been raised from its loading position, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for transferring material from a car to a boat, the combination with framework, a trolley and a rectangular bucket, of a pulley connected with the bucket with its-axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bucket, pulleys mounted in the trolley with their axes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bucket, a cable passing over all of said pulleys, and means connected with said cable whereby to raise the bucket and permit the latter to automatically turn a one-fourth revolution:

3. In an apparatus for transferring material from a car to a boat, the combination with framework, a bucket adapted to receive material from a carand a boom attached to the framework and adapted to project over a boat, of a trolley mounted on' the framework and adapted to run on said boom, a cable connected with said bucket in such manner as to cause the bucket to make a onefourth revolution after it shall have been raised from loading position, means for raising the bucket and means for moving the trol ley on the boom, substantially as set forth.

4. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a cradle or platform adapted to support a car and means for tilting said cradle or plat-.

form, of a bucket to receive material from the car, said bucket comprising a body "portion and an independently-movable bottom adapted to pass through said body portion, substantially as set forth.

5. In' a loading apparatus the combination with a cradle or platform adapted to receive a car and means fol-tilting the same, of a bucket to receive material from the car, said bucket comprising a body portion and an independently-movable bottom adapted to pass through said body portion, said bottom having its top face made inclined in opposite directions from the center, substantially as set forth.

6. In a loading apparatus, the combination with framework, a cradle adapted to support a car and means for tilting the cradle, of a bucket comprising a body portion and an independently-movable bottom adapted to pass through said body portion, and apparatus connected independently with said body portion and bottom of the bucket whereby to cause movements of said parts of the bucket independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

7. In a loading apparatus, the combination with framework, a cradle adapted to support a car and means for tilting said cradle, of a bucket to receive material from the car and comprisinga body portion and an independently-movable bottom adapted to pass through said body portion, a hoisting-drum connected with said body portion of the bucket, another dru mconnected with the bottom of the bucket whereby to cause said bottom to descend gradually through the body of the bucket as material is dumped thereinto from the car, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a frame,of a cradle mounted therein and connected therewith above the bottom of said cradle by means of a fixed pivot, means for holding a car on said cradle, a drum and cables connected with the bottom of the'cradle and wound on said drum, whereby to turn the cradle on said fixedpivot, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a pivotally-supported cradle and a chute carried thereby, of an automatically operating gate for said chute, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a pivotally-supported cradle, a chute carried thereby and a receptacle to receive material from said chute, of a gate for said chute and devices connected with said gate for automatically opening and closing the latter when the chute approaches or recedes from said receptacle, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with a frame, of a cradle pivoted therein, a chute carried by said cradle, a bucket, and a gate in the outlet of the chute adapted to cooperate with said bucket, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a framework, of a traveling tower, a traekway secured to the tower and pivotally connected with said framework, a boom pivotally connected with the tower, a trackway on said boom adapted to aline with said first mentioned trackway, a trolley mounted on said trackways and a bucket supported from said trolley, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a fixed frame and a movable tower, of a frame pivotally mount- 14. The combination wit-h a fixed frame and a movable tower, of a frame pivoted on the main frame, a trackway connecting said pivoted frame and tower, a boom pivoted to the tower and projecting outwardly therefrom, a trackway on said boom, a trolley adapted to run on said trackways, hoisting-drums on the pivoted frame, abucket, and cables connected with said bucket, hoisting-drums, trolley and boom, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a tower, a framework, tracks connecting the tower and framework and a beam having tracks, of a trolley adapted to run on said trackways, a bucket comprising a body portion and a bottom movable independently through said body portion, two hoisting apparatus supported in the framework, cables connected with said hoisting apparatus, passing through said trolley and connected independently with said body and bottom of the bucket, a motor also supported on the framework and independent cables connecting said motor and trolley, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with a fixed framework, of a framework pivotally mounted on the fixed framework, hoisting and carrying apparatus mounted on the pivoted framework and driving and controlling mechanism for said hoisting and carrying apparatus also mounted on said pivoted framework, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with afixedframework and a framework pivotally mounted thereon, of a cradle. mounted in the fixed framework, a movable receptacle, means also mounted in said fixed framework for tilting the cradle and depositing material from a car on said cradle into said receptacle, hoisting and carrying apparatus for said receptacle, mounted on said pivoted framework and means also mounted on said pivoted framework for actuating and controlling said hoisting and carrying apparatus, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with a framework and a tower connected therewith,of an outwardlyprojecting boom supported at both ends directly by the tower and pivotally connected directly to said tower, a hoisting-drum, and a cable connected with the free end of said boom, passing over the top of the tower and connected with said drum and a truss-rod made in sections loosely connected together, said truss-rod connecting said boom with the tower, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a truck and a bucket, of means for depositing the bucket onto the truck and means for turning the bucket a quarter-revolution when being deposited on the truck,substantiall as set forth.

20.,The combination with a truck and a bucket, of means for depositing the bucket onto the truck and means for automatically turning the bucketas it reaches the truck, substantially as set forth. I

21. The combination with a truck, a bucket and means for depositing the bucket onto the truck, of guides secured to the truck and adapted to turn the bucket as it reaches the truck, substantially as set forth.

22. In a loading apparatus,the combination with a cradle adapted to support a car, and a series of elongated buckets, of means for disposing said buckets lengthwise side by side so as to receive the contents of the car simultaneously, and independent means for hoisting, manipulating and carrying each bucket, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with a framework, of a cradle therein and adapted to support a car, a chute having two outlets common to the car, two buckets to receive the contents of the car through said chutes, and two hoisting and conveying apparatus for said buckets, sub stantially as set forth.

24:. Thecombinationwithachuteandagate at the outlet thereof, of a weighted arm on said gate, a latch for the gate, a lever pivoted between its ends and a bar connecting said lever and latch, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. HULETT.

\Vitnesses:

O. S. Conn, GEO. G. ALLEN. 

